The Piper family have returned to BCA after six years in Gunnedah, in the diocese of Armidale. Some of you may remember that the Pipers previously served with us in Lightning Ridge.

We spent three years as assistants to Mike & Chantalle Keith from 2010–13 before becoming BCA Field Staff in 2013. When we first travelled to Lightning Ridge to check out the town, Mike took us for a drive around the opal fields, stopping at J’s place. She emerged from her dwelling (two old buses parallel) in a state of semiundress and intoxication. She would turn up to church with her funny smelling water bottle! And we loved her – one of the Ridge’s characters!

We learned to love that quirky, small town and live in its ‘fishbowl’ environment, with its pros and cons. There were fun things: Joanne, & Mike Keith got flown out by helicopter to run church at Goodooga during floods, and I took a wedding in an opal mine. We were there for the drought years, and it was a privilege to work with BCA supporters to assist farmers with feed drops, hampers and visits. Our three sons were all born during our time there.

By the end of our time in Lightning Ridge, I’d seen how much I didn’t know about leading a church and was ready to step back and become an associate. God opened a door for us to go to Gunnedah, where we’ve been for six years. Gunnedah is a beautiful place, the church is wonderful and we were happy there. Then at Clergy Conference 2024, Greg Harris spoke to us about moving ‘further out’ to make room for more to move to the country. Greg mentioned several BCA positions, and Emerald grabbed our attention. We spoke to Dan & Jenni Avenell (formerly at Barraba) who had been serving in Emerald, and they were very positive about the church. We prayed about it, spoke to BCA some more and eventually the pieces fell into place.

It does feel like a big move. It is further from family. And I’ve said to God, “I must be crazy to think about leaving this church and the Armidale Diocese – there are so many blessings, so many relationships! Please make it clear if that’s what you want!”

We visited St Luke’s Emerald in the October school holidays after our move had been announced. We liked the town, but I still remember thinking on our first day there, “What on earth am I doing, agreeing to move so far away?!”. But that night we got to share time with the congregation of St Luke’s at a potluck dinner organised so that people could meet us, and once I met the parishioners, I loved them and remembered why we were there – for God’s people, the church.

We arrived in early January and were commissioned on the 13th. It was wonderful to have ministers from all around the Diocese of Central Queensland, and from Emerald too. Greg Harris gave a memorable message on our lives being about ‘not me – Him’ (Jesus)! A great way to start!

We are already familiar with the pool and skate park and the boys have started making friends at church, which is a real answer to prayer.